Estrada Courts

Photo Credit: Fabian S.

A mural of some of the most famous people in Mexican and Chicano history painted on one of the housing complexes within the Estrada Courts that exists today.

Location: Estrada Courts

Address: 3232 Estrada Street, Los Angeles, CA 90023

Directions: Take the I-10 E, Exit on Santa Fe Ave, Left on E Olympic Blvd, Left on San Grande Vista Ave, Right on Estrada Street.

The Estrada Courts housing projects in Boyle Heights were constructed near the end of 1941. A newspaper article from that time states they were originally designed for “one of the City Housing Authority’s 10 slum-clearance and low-rent dwelling projects” (LA Times) but were instead use to house the families of those who worked in the defense industries given the events happening at the time. In the 1970s the Estrada Courts gained popularity due to its murals. Chicano art had gained ground since the 1960s as a means to express the struggles of the Chicana/o community while promoting a sense of ethnic pride and political activism (Arreola 410). 

By 1973, the Estrada Courts boasted 39 murals with depictions ranging from Pre-Columbian history of the Americas to the militant activism of the Chicano movement. Near the end of the 20^th century, however, this housing project had become a breeding ground for violence and gang activity, negatively impacting the quality of life the residents living in the area. Other housing projects impacted by the violence such as Aliso Village and Pico Gardens were demolished to pave the way for re-development projects, leaving many individuals homeless.

Efforts to renovate the area ensured rapidly. Organizations such as TELACU spearheaded investment programs which allowed individuals living in the Estrada Courts housing projects the opportunity to work for a fair wage and engage in the reconstruction of their homes. The people of Estrada Courts also established the Estrada Courts- Resident Management Corporation around that time with the goal of providing social services to the residents of the area as well as advocating for their needs. In recent years, efforts have been made to restore many of the murals which illuminate the walls of the housing projects throughout the Estrada Courts area. As of March 2012, the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles was eyeing 13 of the 54 surviving murals for restoration due to their historical importance as landmarks of the Latina/o community of Los Angeles (KCET).

Submitted by: Ale C., Monica C., Fabian S.  


Sources

"Housing Project Ceremony Set." Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File): A6. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Los Angeles Times (1881-1988). Dec 07 1941. Web. 1 May 2012.

Arreola, Daniel D.  “Mexican American Exterior Murals.” Geographical Review, Vol. 74, No. 4 (Oct., 1984), pp. 409-424. American Geographical Society.http://www.jstor.org/stable/215024

Fuentes, Ed. “Restored Estrada Courts Mural to be Rededicated.” 8 March 2012. KCET. http://www.kcet.org/socal/departures/landofsunshine/arts/murals/estrada-courts-mural-to-be-rededicated.html